Tie



Jam 26 1926. 1,571,119

A. S. HOFFMEIER ffffvmw 6 ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Jan. 26 1926. f- 1,571,119

` A. S. HOFFMEIER TIE Filed July 8, 1925 2 Sheecs-SheeiI 2 f/ F, y

/Kmv SHg/ffmez'ef ATT RNEY Patented Jan. Z6, 1926.

UNITEv STATES ARTHUR S. HOFFMEIER, F JEANNETTE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIE.

'Application inea July s, 1925. serial No. 42,277.

To all "LU/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. HOFFMEIER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Jeannette, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ties, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has reference to a metallic rail tie, and means for supporting a rail way rail thereon.

A further object is the provision of a metal tie having rail engaging clamps adjustably associated therewith, means cover- .ing the openings of the tie in which the bodies of the clamps pass, securing means for said covering means, and brace members held on the tie by said securing mea-ns, the .said braces contacting with the upper faces of the rails for preventing the tilting of said rails. A

A. further object is the provision of a metallic tie having rail engaging elements of a substantially similar construction, together with a wedge which is disposed to the rear of one of the said elements and whereby the removal of the wedge will permit of the elements being slid away from each other to receive the rail therebetween without interfering with the remaining rails which are lined on the ties.

A still further object is the provision of a metal tie havingsimilarly constructed rail engaging elements er clamps slidably associated therewith, means adjustably connecting the clamps, said means being wholly concealed and protected from the elements, while the tie, at the ends thereof, is provided with drain openings to prevent the accumulation of moisture in and the deterioration of the tie.

With the above broadly stated objects in view and others as will present themeselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, reference is to be had to the drawings which accompany and'which form part of this application.

In the drawings Figure l is a plan view showing railway rails supported on a tie in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tie to illustrate the manner in which the brace enga-ges the rail on the tie.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4l-4 of Figure 3. y

Figure 5 is a top plan view looking toward one end of the tie.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a bott-om plan View of one of the cover members.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the brace members.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the rai engaging clamps.

Figure 10 isa similar View of one of the keys.

The tie l comprises a lsubstantially rectangular hollow metal body, of proper length and width.- The tie l, being comparatively heavy, will be effectively heldl in the roadbed so that liability of its displacement is reduced to a minimum. The tie on its upper face, adjacent to its ends, is formed with T-shaped openings. The wider passage of each of these openings is indicated by the numeral 2, and the centrally restricted passage by the numeral 3. The wider passages 2 are disposed nearest the ends of the ties, and the end walls provided thereby are beveled inwardly as at The top of the tie, in a line with the parallel longitudinal walls provided by the passages 2 and 3, is channeled, to provide ledges 5 and 6 respectively for the rail engaging clamps which will now be described.

The tie, at the lower edges-thereof, is formed wit-h drain openings 1', so that the accumulation of moisture in the tie will find outlets therefrom, and thereby materially lengthen the life of the tie.

The clamps are both of a similar construction, being of the same dimensions and consequently are molded in the same pattern. The clamps are indicated for distinction by the numerals 6 and 7, respectively. Each of the clamp members comprises a base portion 8 centrally formed, on its upper face, with an upstanding rib 9.` Each rib 9 terminates in a fiat plate 10 that extends beyond the sides of the ribs 9. Each plate 10 has its outer end formed with an upstanding fiange llthat terminates in an overlying flange l2`whose under face is cut angularly,

as at 13. The base or body portion of the member 7 is formed with a centrally threaded opening 14, and that of the member 6 with a similar but non-threaded opening 15.

The flanges 11 and '12 provide each of the clamp sections with jaws that are designed to snugly receive therein the base anges 16 of the rails 17. Of course, the depth of the passages 3 is such as to snugly accommodate the clamp sections therein, and also the distance between the end walls of the opposed passages 3 provides for the proper gauging of the rails 17 when the clamp sections 7 are in contacting engagement with the said end walls. To hold the clamp sections associated and in tightengagement with the base flanges of the Vrails, there is passed through the opening 15 in the section 6 a bolt 18 which is threadedly received in the opening 14 of the clamp section 7. Of course, before the rails are thus clamped, the members 6 and 7 are arranged in the restricted passages 3. The spaces provided between the under faces of the plates 10 and the upper l faces of the base portions 8 of the clamp sections contact respectively with the ledges 6 and with the inner surface of the top of the tie 1. Also, the ribs 9 are of a width equaling the distance between the side walls provided by the passage 3. The section 6 may be moved away from the section 7 a suliicient distance to permit of the base flange of the rail being arranged on the plates 10 of both of the clamp sections 6 and 7, and thereafter the bolt 18 is screwed home to force the clamp sections toward each other. The clamp sections are so proportioned that the confronting ends of the base portions thereof are ne'ver in contacting enga'gement.

In order to permit of the clamps being spread away from each other to receive a rail therebetween, after other rails have beeny laid on the ties, I provide a key member 50. The key includes a head 51 and a shank 52, the latter being provided with a socket 53 in alignment with and designed to receive therein the end of the bolt 18. The length of the slot is such that when the key is re -oved the cla-mp sections may be spread from each other a proper distance to receive a rail therebetween. When the lbolt is screwed to bring the clamps toward each other, the key is inserted in the slot to the rear of the inner clamp. Thereafter the bolt is screwed fully home and, as previously stated, has its end received in the pocket in the key. rThe key, it will thus be noted, forms an important element of the invention, employed in the laying of the original rails as well as in the laying of new ones for supplementing worn rails.

The head of the bolt 18 is accessible through the passage 2 of the T-shaped slot or opening, and it is necessary to close these openings to prevent the longitudinal movement of the rail clamps. Therefore, 1 provide closure plates 19 whose inner edges are channeled longitudinally, as at 20, the said channel portions being received on the ledges 5. The outer end of each closure 19 is beveled, as at 21, for engagement with the beveled walls l of the ties. The inner ends of the closures contact with the outer faces of the clamp members 6. The under face of each closure 19, from its last-mentioned end, is formed with a depending lug 22 centrally formed, at its inner end, with a depression 23 to receive the head of the bolt 18 therein. The head of the bolt may contact with the side walls provided by the said depression 23, and is thereby held from turning. Each closure is further provided on its outer face with an ear 24C having an opening therein that aligns with similar openings in the sides of the tie. Passed through these aligning openings there are bolts y25 which are engaged by suitable nuts. The bolts also pass through openings in brace bars 26. Each of the brace bars has its inner end shaped to engage with the under face of the head of the rails 17. Each brace bar 26 has one of its faces reduced, as at 27, and the shoulder provided at the terminal of the said reduced face is cut angularly as at 28. This angle shoulder 28 rests on the top of the tie 1, so that the strain incident to outward pressure on the rails 17 is not wholly compensated for by the bolts 25. 0n its inner end and on its upper face each of the cover members 19 is centrally formed with a hookshaped lug 30. This lug is designed to be engaged by a pinch or other bar for removing the cover after the bolt 25 has been withdrawn, and may likewise serve as a striking element for a hammer for forcing the cover in wedging engagement with the outer clamp members 6 and for properly arranging the cover in the openings provided therein.

The operation and advantages of my improvement will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood Athat T am not to be restricted to size, proportion, etc., and may make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of what 1 claim. For instance, I may lengthen the passages 3 and thicken the clamp sections 6 when the device is to be employed on narrow gauge railways, and likewise I may arrange a filler member between the clamp section 7 and the inner walls provided by the passages 3 for properly gau'g` ing the rails. 17.

Having described the invention, I claim z- 1. A hollow metal tie having clamping means for holding railway rails thereon, including a member having dra-in openings llt) at the lower ends thereof and having its top provided with T-shaped slots, similarly shaped rail clamps disposed in pairs and having their sides grooved to contact with the upper and lower faces of the top of the tie when arranged in the restricted passages of the T-shaped slots, means adjustably securing the cooperating clamp sections, a headed key member in contact with the inner clamps and designed to be forced thereby against the inner walls of the said restricted passages of the slots and also designed to be held by the adjustable connecting means between the clamps, a cover plate for the widened passages of the T-shaped slots, and removable means holding the cover plate positioned.

2. A hollow inetal tie having clamping means for holding railway rails thereon, including a member having drain openings at the lower ends thereof and having its top provided with T-shaped slots, similarly shaped rail clamps disposed in pairs and having their sides grooved to contact with the upper and lower faces of the top of the tie when arranged in the restricted passages of the T-shaped slots, means adjustably securing the cooperating clamp sections, a headed key member in contact with the inner clamps and designed to be forced thereby against the inner walls of the said restricted passages of the slots and also designed to be held by the adjustable connecting means between the clamps, a cover plate for the widened passages of the T-shaped slots, removable means holding the cover plate positioned and a rail brace supported by each of said removable means.

3. A metal tie and means for clamping rails thereon, said tie comprising a hollow member having T-shaped slots in its upper face adjacent to the ends thereof, cooperating rail engaging clamps seated in the restricted passages of the slots, a key element engaging one of said clamps, means adjustably connecting said clamps and securing the key thereon, cover members closing the widened passages of the slots and contacting with the outer clamp sections, and removable means holding the covers in place.

4. A metal tie and means for clamping rails thereon, said tie comprising a hollow7 member having lT-shaped slots in its upper face adjacent to the ends thereof, cooperat. ing rail engaging clamps seated in the restricted passages of the slots, means adjustably connecting said clamps, cover members closing the widened passages of the slots and contacting with the outer clamp sections, removable means holding the covers in place, andrail brace bars resting on the ties and held in rail engagement by said removable connecting means.

5. A metal tie and means for clamping railway rails thereon, said tie comprising a hollow member having T-shaped openings on its upper face adjacent to the ends thereof whose side walls have their upper edges channeled to provide horizontal ledges, said tie having its upper faces recessed in a line with the longitudinal walls provided by said slots, rail clamps arranged in cooperating pairs, each including a base, a rib projecting from the base, a plate formed on and .extending laterally over the rib and a rail engaging hook on the outer end of each plate, the plate portions of each of the clamps designed to rest on the ledges in the restricted passages of the slots, the ribs to till the space between the walls of said passages, and the upper faces of the base portions to contact with the under face of the tie, means comprising a bolt passing freely through the outer clamp sections and threadedly engaging the inner clamp sections for adjustably connecting the sections, cover plates for the outer and widened passages of the T-shaped openings having depending notched lugs to receive the heads of the bolts therein and having ears and an upstanding hook on the inner ends thereof, the inner edges of the said cover plates being channeled to rest on the ledges provided at the widened passages of the T-shaped openings, a bolt member passing through the sides of the tie and through the ears in the cover plate, and a rail brace bar engaged by each of said bars, and each of said bars having a shoulder portion to rest directly on the top of thetie.

ARTHUR S. HOFFMEIER` 

